MACRINUS, a weaver, to whose house Vinicius was carried, washed him, and
gave him clothing and food. When the young tribune had recovered his strength
altogether, he declared that he would search further for Linus that very night.
Macrinus, who was a Christian, confirmed Chio's report, that Linus, with Clement
the chief priest, had gone to Ostrianum, where Peter was to baptize a whole
company of confessors of the new faith. In that division of the city it was known to
Christians that Linus had confided the care of his house two days before to a
certain Gaius. For Vinicius this was a proof that neither Lygia nor Ursus had
remained in the house, and that they also must have gone to Ostrianum.
This thought gave him great comfort. Linus was an old man, for whom it would be
difficult to walk daily to the distant Nomentan Gate, and back to the Trans-Tiber;
hence it was likely that he lodged those few days with some co-religionist beyond
the walls, and with him also Lygia and Ursus. Thus they escaped the fire, which
in general had not reached the other slope of the Esquiine. Vinicius saw in all this
a dispensation of Christ, whose care he felt above him, and his heart was filled
more than ever with love; he swore in his soul to pay with his whole life for those
clear marks of favor.
But all the more did he hurry to Ostrianum. He would find Lygia, find Linus and
Peter; he would take them to a distance, to some of his lands, even to Sicily. Let
Rome burn; in a few days it would be a mere heap of ashes. Why remain in the
face of disaster and a mad rabble? In his lands troops of obedient slaves would
protect them, they would be surrounded by the calm of the country, and live in
peace under Christ's wings blessed by Peter. Oh, if he could find them!
That was no easy thing. Vinicius remembered the difficulty with which he had
passed from the Appian Way to the Trans-Tiber, and how he must circle around
to reach the Via Portuensis. He resolved, therefore, to go around the city this
time in the opposite direction, Going by the Via Triumphatoris, it was possible to
reach the )Emilian bridge by going along the river, thence passing the Pincian
Hill, all the Campus Martius, outside the gardens of Pornpey, Lucullus, and
Sallust, to make a push forward to the Via Nomentana. That was the shortest
way; but Macrinus and Chio advised him not to take it. The fire had not touched
that part of th‡ city, it iae true; but all the market squares and streets might be
packed densely with people and their goods. Chilo advised him to go through the
Ager Vaticanus to the Porta Flaminia, cross the river at that point, and push on
outside the walls beyond the gardens of Acilius to the Porta Salaria. Vinicius,
after a moment's hesitation, took this advice.
Macrinus had to remain in care of his house; but he provided two mules, which
would serve Lygia also in a further ourney. He wished to give a slave, too; but
Vinicius re1uaeed, judging tIlftt the first detachment of pretorians he met on the
road would pass under his orders.
Soon he and Chilo moved on through the Pagus Janiculensis to the Triumphal
Way. There were vehicles there, too, in open places; but they pushed between
them with less difficulty, as the inhabitants had fled for the greater part by the Via
